Franklin L. Weston

Correctional Officer Franklin Weston, Correctional Officer George Landry and Correctional Officer Howard Murphy were stabbed to death at the Massachusetts State Farm in Bridgewater.

The three officers were working in the Department of Defective Delinquents section of the farm at the time. Officer Weston had gone with two inmates to carpentry and shoe shop to fix a light. He turned his back to the inmates to screw the light bulb in and was attacked by one of the men and knocked unconscious.

The inmates then grabbed several tools and chisels. Before fleeing they stabbed Officer Weston ten times with a chisel. As they attempted to make their escape they were confronted by Officer Murphy and Officer Landry. Officer Murphy caught them as they headed towards the third floor of the building. The men suddenly turned around and stabbed Officer Murphy with the chisels as well. They also stabbed Officer Landry when he came to the aid of Officer Murphy.

The suspects were eventually apprehended after a standoff with the state police. Both inmates were executed on January 1, 1947, for the three murders.

Officer Weston had been with the agency for 15 years. He was survived by his wife, four children, and five grandchildren.

Most Recent Reflection

Time has changed the America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you knew at the beginning of the year 1942 on the day you were taken from us, your sacrifice to our society will never be forgotten, and in that you are immortalized in the hearts and minds of the good citizens and members of Law Enforcement throughout our nation.
Our system has been nearly fully corrupted since your time, with bleeding heart liberalism the leading cause of the recent uptick in the numbers of correctional and peace officers being slain in the line of duty throughout not only the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but the entire Country of these United States of America.
It saddens this Patriot that we have come to believe that capital punishment is "cruel & unusual" treatment for depraved "defective delinquents" such as those you were charged with maintaining custody of.
I was not even born when you were killed in action, but I can imagine the treachery that led to your demise as you felt comfortable enough to turn your back on those inmates that killed you for your momentary lack of diligence based on what you believed to be mutual trust.
If this tragedy has any long lasting good to be had form it, let what happened to you serve as a reminder to other corrections officers to NEVER, ever turn your back on an inmate, no matter how trustworthy they may seem to be, they are simply looking for the opportunity to escape from the punishment they so truly deserve.
Like those who took the life of Chief Robert J.Mortell of the Paxton Police Department, criminals will do the most desperate things thinking they can escape from justice, but thankfully they rarely do get away from the long arm of the law thanks to the dedicated determination of those who are assigned to track down these "defective delinquents".
Rest in peace Officer Franklin L. Weston, and I, former Staff Sergeant O'Clair, Ronald L. will remember your sacrifice in my daily devotions, and render to you my most crisp salute in your memory.
God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.